The Man of Many Secrets ― Harry Houdini ― was one of the greatest American entertainers in the theater. He was a man famous for his escapes ― from prison cells, from wooden boxes floating in rivers, from locked tanks full of water. He appeared in theaters all over Europe and America. Crowds came to see the great Houdini and his “magic” tricks.

Of course, his secret was not magic, or supernatural powers. It was simply strength. He had the ability to move his toes as well as his fingers. He could move his body into almost any position he wanted.

Houdini started working in the entertainment world when he was 17, in 1891. He and his brother Theo performed card tricks in club in New York. They called themselves the Houdini Brothers. When Harry married in 1894, he and his wife Bess worked together as magician and assistant. But for a long time they were not very successful. Then Harry performed his first prison escape in Chicago in 1898. Harry persuaded a detective to let him try to escape from the prison, and he invited the local newspapermen to watch.

It was the publicity(宣传) that came from this that started Harry Houdini’s success. Harry had fingers trained to escape from handcuffs(手铐) and toes trained to escape ankle chains. But his biggest secret was how he unlocked the prison doors. Every time he went into the prison cell, Bess gave him a kiss for good luck ― and a small skeleton key, which is a key that fits many locks, pass quickly from her mouth to his.

Harry used these prison escapes to build his fame. He arranged to escape from the local prison of every town he visited. In the afternoon, the people of the town would read about it in their local newspapers, and in the evening every seat in the local theater would be full. What was the result? Worldwide fame, and a name remembered today.

41. According to the passage, Houdini’s success in prison escapes depends on ________.

A. his special tricks and supernatural powers

B. his unusual ability and a skeleton key

C. his magic tricks and inhuman powers

D. his wisdom and magic tricks

42. In the fourth paragraph, the underlined word “this” refers to ________.

A. his first prison escape                     B. the year 1898

C. the publicity                                   D. Harry Houdini’s success

43. It can be inferred from the passage that Houdini became famous ________.

A. in 1894                                         B. before he married

C. at the age of 17                              D. when he was about 24

44. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

A. A Skeleton Key                            B. Many Secrets

C. World-wide Fame                        D. Great Escapes

The Man of Many Secrets

Harry Houdini was one of the greatest American entertainers in the theater this century. He was a man famous for his escapes form prison cells, from wooden boxes floating in rivers, from looked tanks full of water. He appeared in theaters all over Europe and .America. Crowds came to see the great Houdini and his “magic” tricks.

Of course, his secret was not magic, or supernatural powers. It was simply strength. He had the ability to move his toes as well as he moved his fingers. He could move his body into almost any position he wanted.

Houdini started working in the entertainment world when he was 17, in 1891. He and his brother Theo performed card tricks in a club in New York. They called themselves the Houdini Brothers. When Harry married in 1894, he and his wife Bess worked together as magician and assistant. But for a long time they were not very successful. Then Harry performed his first prison escape, in Chicago in 1898. Harry persuaded a detective to let him try to escape from the prison, and he invited the local newspapermen to watch.

It was the publicity that came from this that started Harry Houdini’s success.

Harry had fingers trained to escape from handcuffs and toes trained to escape from ankle chains. But his biggest secret was how he unlocked the prison doors. Every time he went into the prison cell, Bess gave him a kiss for good luck and a small skeleton key, which is a key that fits many locks, passed quickly from her mouth to his.

Harry used these prison escapes to build his fame. He arranged to escape from the local jail of every town he visited. In the afternoon, the people of the town would read about it in their local n6wspapers, and in the evening every seat in the local theater would be full. What was the result? Worldwide fame, and a name remembered today.

1. Why did Houdini managed escapes from the prison?

A. Because of his magic tricks and superhuman powers

B. Because of his special tricks and a skeleton key

C. Because of his unusual ability and a skeleton key

D. Because of his superhuman talents and magic tricks

2. In the fourth paragraph, the underlined word “this” refers to         .

A. Harry and his wife Bess worked together as magician.

B. Harry performed his first prison escape in Chicago.

C. Harry persuaded a detective and the local newspapermen to join in.

D. Harry’s fingers and toes were specially trained to escape from any handcuffs and                chains.

3. According to the passage, how did Houdini get the key which helped him unlock prison doors?

A. He hid the key under his tongue.

B. His wife passed it to his hand while kissing him.

C. His wife threw it to him by a magic trick.

D. He got it in his mouth through a kiss by the wife.

4. It can be inferred from the passage that Houdini became famous         .

A. when he was about 24                         B. when he was about 17

C. after the year 1894                           D. before the year 1898

5. According to the passage, which of the following statements is tree?

A. Houdini was a famous magician with superhuman power.

B. Houdini was first recognized widely in Chicago.

C. Houdini started the entertainment career together with his wife.

      D. Houdini owed his great success to his small magic key.

The Man of Many Secrets — Harry Houdini — was one of the greatest American entertainers in the theater this century. He was a man famous for his escapes — from prison cells, from wooden boxes floating in rivers, from locked tanks full of water. He appeared in theaters all over Europe and America. Crowds came to see the great Houdini and his “magic” tricks.

　　Of course, his secret was not magic, or supernatural powers. It was simply strength. He had the ability to move his toes as well as he moved his fingers. He could move his body into almost any position he wanted.

　　Houdini started working in the entertainment world when he was 17, in 1891. He and his brother Theo performed card tricks in club in New York. They called themselves the Houdini Brothers. When Harry married in 1894, he and his wife Bess worked together as magician and assistant. But for a long time they were not very successful. Then Harry performed his first prison escape, in Chicago in 1898. Harry persuaded a detective to let him try to escape from the prison, and he invited the local newspapermen to watch.

　　It was the publicity(宣传) that came from this that started Harry Houdini’s success. Harry had fingers trained to escape from handcuffs and toes trained to escape ankle chins. But his biggest secret was how he unlocked the prison doors. Every time he went into the prison cell, Bess gave him a kiss for good luck — and a small skeleton key, which is a key that fits many locks, pass quickly from her mouth to his.

　　Harry used these prison escapes to build his fame. He arranged to escape from the local prison of every town he visited. In the afternoon, the people of the town would read about it in their local newspapers, and in the evening every seat in the local theater would be full. What was the result? World-wild fame, and a name remembered today.

According to the passage, Houdini’s success in prison escapes depends on _______.

　　A. his special tricks and supernatural power　 B. his unusual ability and a skeleton key

　　C. his magic tricks and supernatural powers     D. his wisdom and magic tricks

In the fourth paragraph, the underlined word “this” refers to _______.

　　A. his first prison escape        B. the year 1898

　　C. the publicity               D. Harry Houdini’s success

It can be inferred from the passage that Houdini became famous _______.

　　A. in 1894                   B. before he married

　　C. at the age of 17             D. when he was about 24

Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

　　A. A Skeleton Key             B. A Man of Many Secrets

　　C. World-wild Fame            D. Great Escape